Body support device

ABSTRACT

A body support assembly ( 1 ) capable of providing a fitting feeling to a user according to the user&#39;s body shape by holding the shape thereof matching the user&#39;s body shape. The body support assembly ( 1 ) comprises a supporting member ( 4 ) including a plurality of granulated materials ( 2 ) coated with a moisture-curable resin, and a stretchable cloth ( 3 ) covering the supporting member ( 4 ). The body support assembly ( 1 ) is used such that the cloth ( 3 ) is allowed to come in contact with the portion of the user&#39;s body so as to allow the granulated materials ( 2 ) to move relative to one another, and thus the supporting member ( 4 ) is deformed in a shape matching the portion of the user&#39;s body. Then, the moisture-curable resin is cured. The relative movements of the granulated materials ( 2 ) in the supporting member ( 4 ) are controlled by a frame ( 5 ) embracing an outer peripheral edge of the supporting member ( 4 ).

BACKGROUND OF T-HE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a body support assembly which is usedwhen a user sits down in, for example, a seat, a chair or the like andcan provide a fitting feeling to the user according to the user's bodyshape by holding the shape thereof matching the user's body shape.

2. Description of the Related Art

A seat, a chair, such as an automotive seat, an office chair and awheelchair are manufactured so as to fit an average user. Accordingly,they do not fit properly in some users.

Consequently, various kinds of cushions have been proposed. For example,Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-224796 discloses a bodysupport assembly which comprises a molded member employing a structuresuch that a predetermined amount of granulated materials coated with amoisture-curable urethane prepolymer are covered with a water-permeablematerial, the water-permeable material having a plurality of openingseach smaller than the granulated material, while the water-permeablematerial is coated with a moisture-impermeable material. Themoisture-curable urethane prepolymer and the water-permeable materialsare unreactable with each other, exhibiting a low adhesive propertyrelative to each other.

Meanwhile, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-51255discloses a body support assembly as a position-upholding tool whichcomprises an assembly including: a predetermined amount of granulatedmaterials each having elasticity; and moisture-curable resin each havingelasticity even after curing, in which a sufficient amount of themoisture-curable resin is mixed with the granulated materials so as tobond one granulated material to another when cured, while the granulatedmaterials can move relative to one another according to a user's bodyshape before the moisture-curable resin cures.

Those body support assemblies are ones such that the moisture-curableresin cures after the granulated materials such as foamed polyurethanesare moved to take a specific shape as a whole according to a user's bodyshape, and thus the materials become immobilized in order to hold thespecific shape. Those body support assemblies can rapidly and reliablysupport individual user's body, while the production process thereof issimple, and thus those body support assemblies are especially suitablefor medical application to support a patient's head, etc.

Those body support assemblies, however, have the following problems whenapplied to a seat, a chair or the like to which they are installed in alimited installation area. Namely, those body support assemblies fit toa user's body by allowing the granulated materials such as foamedpolyurethanes to move relative to one another, while a supporting memberthereof containing the moving granulated materials is flattened by apressure from the user's body in order to fit thereto, and thus the areaof the supporting member is enlarged. Moreover, the enlargement of thearea due to this flattening varies according to the individual user'sbody and the pressure therefrom, so that the resultant shape of thesupporting member becomes irregular. Accordingly, those body supportassemblies can not be used as they are for a seat or a chair whose sizesuch as width is subjected to predetermined restrictions.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a body support assemblywhich is able to not only solve the above-explained problems, but alsosupport a user's body reliably while dispersing a pressure from theuser's body with superior air permeability, since the product's valuethereof can be improved.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and itis accordingly an object thereof to provide a body support assemblywhich can hold its shape matching a user's body shape so that the usercan get a fitting feeling in accordance with the user's body shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the above object, according to a first aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a body support assembly comprising:a supporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coatedwith a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member, themoisture permeable member being deformable by press and covering thesupporting member, the body support assembly being used by allowing: themoisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as tomove the granulated materials; the supporting member to deform in ashape according to the portion of the user's body; and themoisture-curable resin to cure, wherein the body support assemblyfurther comprises a control means for controlling relative movements ofthe granulated materials, the control means defining a contour of thebody support assembly.

The body support assembly employing the above-explained structure ismoisturized, and then placed between: a portion of a seat coming incontact with hip, waist, back or the like of a user, namely, the portionof the seat necessary to hold the user; and the user's body. When theuser sits down, pressing the body support assembly, the granulatedmaterials in the supporting member move relative to one another anddeform the whole shape to the specific shape fitting to a portion of theuser such as hip, waist or the like. When the moisture-curable resincures, the granulated materials with the specific shape are immobilized,and thus the shape matching the individual user's body is held. At thatmoment, since the relative movements of the granulated materials in thesupporting member are controlled, the supporting member does not get outof shape when deformed. Accordingly, the body support assembly issuitable for a seat, a chair or the like. Specifically, since each ofthe granulated materials has elasticity, the position of the user's bodycan be reliably supported, while the pressure from the user's body canbe dispersed, ensuring superior air permeability.

In the above-explained body support assembly, since the control meansmay comprise a frame embracing an outer peripheral edge of thesupporting member, the granulated materials in the support assembly doesnot protrude out of the frame, and thus the body support assembly canhold its contour along the frame.

In the above-explained body support assembly, since the moisturepermeable member may comprise a molded container having flexibility andmoisture permeability, while the control means is arranged so as tocover the supporting member from one side thereof with the moldedcontainer and seal off an open side of the molded container, thegranulated materials are moved to take the specific shape as a whole inassociation with the deformation of the molded container, and thenimmobilized by curing, with the specific shape fitting to the portion ofthe user such as hip, waist, back or the like. Accordingly, the specificshape matching the individual user's body can be held, and thus the bodysupport assembly can take its shape in accordance with the moldedcontainer.

In the above-explained body support assembly, since the moisturepermeable member may comprise molded containers each having flexibilityand moisture permeability, while the control means is arranged so as tocover the whole circumference of the supporting member with the moldedcontainers, the granulated materials are moved to take the specificshape as a whole in association with the deformation of the moldedcontainers, and immobilized by curing with the specific shape fitting tothe portion of the user such as hip, waist, back or the like.Accordingly, the shape matching the individual user's body can be held,and thus the body support assembly can take its shape in accordance withthe molded containers.

Also, in the above-explained body support assembly, since the moisturepermeable member may comprise a hardening layer of the granulatedmaterials coated with the moisture-curable resin, the granulatedmaterials being hardened thereby in a predetermined shape as a whole,while the control means includes the hardening layer, whereby thegranulated materials which are not immobilized yet are surrounded by thehardening layer, and are moved inside thereof relative to one anotherand deformed. Accordingly, the body support assembly can have a shapematching the hardening layer of an outside surface. Moreover, thesupporting member and the moisture permeable member can be made from thesame material at a time, the productivity and economical efficiency ofthe body support assembly can be improved.

Moreover, in the above-explained body support assembly, since themoisture permeable member may comprise flexible sheet members, while thecontrol means is arranged so as to cover both sides of the supportingmember with the sheet members, the sheet members being seamed so as todivide the supporting member into a plurality of sections, thegranulated materials are allowed to move only within each section, andthus the body support assembly can have a shape according to the onedefined by the flexible sheet members.

Alternatively, according to a further aspect of the present invention,the body support assembly may further comprise a volume variable meansin the supporting member, the volume variable means defining a contourof the support assembly. The body support assembly employing theabove-explained structure is moisturized, and placed between: a portionof a seat coming in contact with hip, waist, back of a user or the like,namely, the portion of the seat necessary to hold the user; and theuser's body. When the user sits down, pressing the body supportassembly, the granulated materials in the supporting member are movedrelative to one another and deform the whole shape thereof to thespecific shape fitting to a portion of the user such as hip, waist orthe like. When the moisture-curable resin cures, the granulatedmaterials with the specific shape are immobilized, and thus the shapematching the individual user's body is held. At that moment, thegranulated materials are flattened in accordance with the amount ofdepression the granulated materials are subjected to, and thus the wholearea thereof is liable to be enlarged. However, by changing the volumeof the supporting member in accordance with the flattening of thegranulated materials and the enlargement of the area thereof, the bodysupport assembly does not get out of shape. Accordingly, the bodysupport assembly is suitable for the ones having only a limitedinstallation area for installing the body support assembly, such as aseat, a chair or the like. Specifically, since each of the granulatedmaterials has elasticity, the position of the user's body can bereliably supported, while the pressure from the user's body can bedispersed, and thus the body support assembly can have superior airpermeability.

In the above-explained body support assembly, the volume variable meansmay be one which changes a volume of the supporting member by allowing:at least one side of the supporting member to be covered with a moldedcontainer having a predetermined shape; the molded container to beformed with a plurality of open-able sections; an open side of themolded container to be covered with a moisture permeable member that isdeformable by press; the moisture permeable member to come in contactwith a portion of a user's body in order to deform the supporting memberand increase a pressure from the granulated materials inside thesupporting member so that the plurality of open-able sections areopened, while the granulated materials are discharged from the openedopen-able sections. When the granulated materials in the supportingmember are pressed and the pressure thereof increases, the open-ablesections of the molded container are opened, while the granulatedmaterials are discharged from the opened open-able sections.Accordingly, the volume of the supporting member can be changed so as tohold the contour of the body support assembly, and thus it does not getout of shape when deformed.

Moreover, the volume variable member may comprise the buffering member,provided in the supporting member so as to absorb the change of volumethereof, and thus the volume of the supporting member can be changed byallowing the granulated materials to come into the buffering member, tothereby hold the contour of the body support assembly. Accordingly, thebody support assembly does not get out of shape when deformed.

Also, the buffering member may comprise a foamed member.

Further, the supporting member provided with the control means may bearranged to include a foamed member.

Still further, the supporting member may be provided on a backrest of aseat, including a waist supporting member and a shoulder supportingmember, and the supporting member may be formed such that thicknessthereof decreases toward the shoulder supporting member. Alternatively,the supporting member may comprise a backrest obverse portion placed ona backrest of a seat and a bottom obverse portion placed on a bottom ofthe seat. Holding members may be provided on the supporting member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a body support assembly accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view showing the body supportassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the body support assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a frame included in the body supportassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an applied condition of the bodysupport assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the applied condition of the body supportassembly shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross sectional view showing the body supportassembly of FIG. 5 in the applied condition;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a body support assembly accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view showing the body support assembly ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view showing a body supportassembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a body support assembly accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view showing the body support assembly ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a body support assembly accordingto a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing the body support assembly ofFIG. 13 along a line A-A;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view showing the body support assembly ofFIG. 13 along a line B-B;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view showing the body support assembly ofFIG. 13 along a line C-C;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional viiew showing a container of the bodysupport assembly of FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a body support assembly according to asixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view showing the body support assembly ofFIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view showing a body support assemblyaccording to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view showing a mold used for manufacturingthe body support assembly of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view showing a modified example of the bodysupport assembly shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view showing a body support assemblyaccording to a eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a body support assembly according to a ninth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 25 is a transverse cross sectional view showing the body supportassembly of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a side view showing an applied condition of the body supportassembly shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a cross sectional view showing the applied condition of thebody support assembly of FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a body support assembly accordingto a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a cross sectional view showing the body support assembly ofFIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a cross sectional view showing an applied condition of thebody support assembly of FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a cross sectional view showing an modified example of thebody support assembly shown in FIG. 28;

FIG. 32 is a side view showing an applied condition of a body supportassembly according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a side view showing an applied condition of a body supportassembly according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a side view showing an applied condition of a body supportassembly according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 35(a) is a perspective view showing a frame included in the bodysupport assembly shown in FIG. 34, while FIG. 35(b) is a perspectiveview showing the body support assembly;

FIG. 36 is a side view showing an applied condition of a body supportassembly according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing the body support assembly of FIG.36;

FIG. 38 is a cross sectional view showing the body support assembly ofFIG. 37 along a line A-A;

FIG. 39 is a side view showing an applied condition of a body supportassembly according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 40 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 39 along a line A-A; and

FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing a frame included in the bodysupport assembly of FIG. 39.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be explained withreference to the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 7. As shown in FIGS. 1to 4, a body support assembly 1 according to this embodiment comprises:a supporting member 4; and a frame 5. The supporting member 4 includes:a plurality of granulated materials 2 coated with a moisture-curableresin; and a cloth 3 as a moisture permeable member which is deformableby press and made from a stretchable knitted fabric, textile fabric,non-woven cloth or a monofilament. The frame 5 is provided in thesupporting member 4 as a framework. The frame 5 is essentially octagonalin a plane but bent three-dimensionally. In order to hold in a mannerlike wrapping a portion of the user's body from right and left sidesthereof, the cloth 3 employs a structure such that the size thereof isset to be slightly larger than that of the portion of the user's body soas to provide a well supporting effect. According to this embodiment,the frame 5 serves as a control means for controlling relative movementsof the granulated materials 2 within the supporting member 4. Meanwhile,the cloth 3 may be fixed to the frame 5. For example, the cloth 3 may beadhered to the frame 5, or stitched thereonto.

For the granulated material 2 in the above-explained body supportassembly 1 is preferred one having adequate elasticity and nonreactivewith a moisture-curable resin (described later), or one finished so asnot to be reactive with the moisture-curable resin in a non-curedcondition. For example, olefin-base granulated materials such as thosemade from polyethylene, polypropylene or a copolymer thereof withelasticity added thereto by softener or plasticizer, as well as thosemade from rubber-base materials with elasticity added thereto in asimilar way or having elasticity themselves, such as vinyl acetatecopolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyester, polyether,polyurethane, neoprene, polybutadiene, silicon or any other rubber-basematerial are preferable. Moreover, an elastic material or a gelatinousmaterial that are nonreactive with the moisture-curable resin may alsobe used therefor.

To be more precise, the following products can be used as the granulatedmaterial 2, :COSMOGEL (commercial product made by Cosmo instruments Co.,Ltd); MNCS (made by Bridgestone Co., Ltd); ALPHAGEL (made by Seagel Co.,Ltd); TORAYPEF (made by Toray Industries, Inc); MITSUFUKU FOAM (made byMitsufuku Industries Co., Ltd); EXCESEAL (made by Inoac KabushikiKaisha); CALSOFT (made by Takiron Co., Ltd); NEOPLEN Rubber (made byYamamoto Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd); CR Rubber (made by Daiwabo Co., Ltd orMarushinkakou Kabushiki Kaisha); SILICON sponge (made by Chiyoda GomuKabushiki Kaisha, Inoac Kabushiki Kaisha or Shinetsu Kagaku KougyouKabushiki Kaisha), etc.

Each of the above-described granulated materials 2 may be formed inspherical shape, bar-shape, cubical shape, cuboidal shape, cylindricalshape, discotical shape, or other suitable shapes. It is preferable thatthe granulated material 2 is formed in corner-free shape, specifically,spherical shape. Moreover, from a standpoint of the elasticity of thebody support assembly 1, the granulated material 2 is preferably formedso as to be solid, to have hollows, or to be foamed. In a case where thegranulated material 2 is a foamed one, it is preferable to form each ofthe granulated material 2 to be a closed cell so that themoisture-curable resin (described later) would not permeate inside thegranulated material 2. Specifically, one having a skin layer on thesurface is suitable.

The size of each granulated material 2 varies depending on: the positionto use the body support assembly 1; the material of the granulatedmaterial 2; and types or kinds of the moisture-curable resin. Largegranulated material 2 results in high permeability to air, but if it istoo large, it causes decrease in deformability and surface smoothnessthereof, and thus the fitting comfort of the body support assembly 1would be inferior. Accordingly, the granulated material 2 of less thanabout 8 cm³ is preferable, more preferably that of 0.125 cm³ or belowallows the body support assembly 1 to be easy-to-use and to have asmoothed surface. Alternatively, the granulated material 2 can be madefrom two or more kinds of above materials having different qualities,shapes, characteristics and/or sizes.

Further, the hardness of the material of the above-explained granulatedmaterials 2 is set to be about 2 kg/cm² or below under 25% compressivestrength test for cushioning soft urethane (JIS K6401 5.4), andpreferably, set to be about 1.0 kg/cm² or below. Still further,compressive residual strain thereof (JIS K 6401 5.5) is set to be about15% or below, preferably, about 13% or below. In a case where thecompressive strength is over 2 kg/cm² or the compressive residual strainover 15%, the granulated materials 2 are so hard that a distortionthereof would be developed during the use, and thus it is not desirable.

For the moisture-curable resin for coating the above-describedgranulated materials 2, hydraulic urethane prepolymer is preferablesince it easily cures when water is applied. The hydraulic urethaneprepolymer is prepolymer having isocianate group in a terminal obtainedby a reaction of polyol and polyisocianate. Meanwhile, othermoisture-curable resin such as moisture-curable silicon resin may beused. As the moisture-curable resin, one having an appropriateelasticity after cured is preferable. Alternatively, the granulatedmaterial 2 may be one which bonds to the moisture-curable resin when themoisture-curable resin cures by the addition of water, or one which isimmobilized without bonding to the moisture-curable resin in a statewhere it is embraced by the moisture-curable resin. A catalytic agent, afixing agent, an anti-forming agent, an antioxidant, a coloring agent, athixotropy adding agent, a bulking agent, etc. can be accordingly addedto the moisture-curable resin from the standpoints of the hardeningtime, preservation-stability, acceleration of defoaming when cured,finished color tone and so on. As those additives, well-known compoundscan be selected according to the composition of the moisture-curableresin.

In a case where the moisture-curable resin comprises hydraulic urethaneprepolymer, bis (2,6-dimethyl molpholino) diethyl ether, triethylenediamine, cyclohexylamine, dimethyl ethanolamine,substitution-molpholine, dimethyl piperazine, or the like can be used asa curing catalyst. In a case where a thixotoropy adding agent is added,maldistribution of the moisture-curable resin can be prevented when themoisture-curable resin is preserved in a mixed condition with thegranulated material 2, and thus a state where both the moisture-curableresin and the granulated material 2 are homogeneously mixed can be held.As the thixotoropy adding agent for hydraulic urethane prepolymer, thefollowings can be used: silica; titanium oxide; organicpolyalkylene-modified compound comprising polyalkylene glycol whosehydroxyl end group is treated with a hydroxyl treatment agent, such aspolyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol or a copolymer thereof treatedwith methyl chloride or a fatty acid; aromatic carboxylic acid esters;benzylidene sorbitols, zytrylidene sorbitols or the like synthesized byacetal reaction of D-sorbitol with aromatic aldehyde. The amount to beused is about 0.01 to 6%, preferably about 0.05 to 3% relative tohydraulic urethane prepolymer.

Hydraulic urethane prepolymer is suitable as the moisture-curable resinsince it has the following desirable properties, though they depend onthe use thereof, such that: the apparent strength thereof enabling auser's weight to be applied as a load can be obtained in about 3 to 30minutes' curing time after water is applied; the change of volumethereof due to a reaction is small; harmful effect against human bodysuch as the producing of fever, stimulation or the like seldom occurs;and stability of preservation is high.

Sufficient amount of the above-explained moisture-curable resin isappropriately mixed so that the surfaces of the all granulated materials2 are coated. Normally, more than about 7.5 g of the moisture-curableresin per 1 litter (volume) of the granulated materials 2 is sufficient,which is preferably about 45 to 420 g. The granulated materials 2 andthe moisture-curable resin are mixed by a versatile mixer, a concretemixer or any other suitable mixer or the like, preferably under anenvironment in which mixing temperature is 20 degrees centigrade andrelative humidity (RH) is 20% or below, such that dry nitrogen gas isfilled in a chamber of the above mixer, and then a predetermined amountof the granulated materials 2 is put therein and stirred while apredetermined amount of the moisture-curable resin is mixed therewith,until they are mixed in a homogeneous state.

After mixing, each of the granulated materials 2 is coated with thesufficient amount of the moisture-curable resin for sticking onegranulated material 2 to another. Each of the granulated materials 2 isgathered in a mass by the non-cured moisture-curable resin, but in acondition such that each of them can move relative to one another. Themixture of the granulated materials 2 and the moisture-curable resin canbe preserved so as to remain non-cured, by storing it in amoisture-proofed one such as a packaging bag or sheet including analuminum foil, a box and a can.

The cloth 3 is made for example from: synthetic fibers of polyester,polypropylene, polyethylene, polyacrylamide, polyurethane,styrene-isoprene-styrene-copolymer (SIS), polyamide or other kinds ofsynthetic fibers; regenerated fibers of rayon, cotton, linen or thelike; and inorganic fibers such as natural fibers, glass fibers, etc. Amaterial of the cloth 3 reactive with the moisture-curable resin orhaving a large moisture content may be subjected to preliminary surfacetreatment to have non-reactivity, or dried to be dehydrated. Forhydraulic urethane prepolymer, a preferable material of the cloth 3 isone which does not react with the none-cured urethane prepolymer, suchas polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, SIS or thelike. Specifically, fibers of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene,polyurethane or SIS, each having heat sealing characteristic, or blendedfabrics of either one of them are preferred. Those materials are formedin a knit, textile, non-woven cloth, molten-net or the like, but it isdesirable to form them flexible and extendible enough to fit well to thecontour of the portion of the user's body when applied. For suchflexibility and extendibility, one having at least 15% elongationpercentage in either direction of longitudinal or transversal directionsis preferable. Less than that percentage of elongation may result in apoor compatibility with the user's body when deforming its shape.

The frame 5 is made from a material having a certain level of rigidityand elasticity such as a steel-made wire, synthetic resins and so on.For example, the steel-made wire may be three dimensionally bent in adesired shape and both ends thereof may be jointed by a caulking portion5A so as to shape the frame 5. Alternatively, the frame 5 may be madefrom a synthetic resin such as foamed polystyrene which is formed in asimilar shape.

The body support assembly 1 of this embodiment is put into anon-illustrated moisture-proof bag and sealed therein. Consequently, thegranulated materials 2 are not exposed to moisture in this sealedcondition, and thus the curing of the moisture-curable resin iscertainly prevented, while the moisture-curable resin coating thegranulated materials 2 can be cured in a short time by opening themoisture-proof bag and then applying water or spraying a catalystsolution thereto so as to allow the moisture-curable resin to be exposedto moisture. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the above-explained body supportassembly 1 is placed on a seat cover 12 of an automotive seat 11 or thelike. To be more precise, the body support assembly 1 of this embodimentis placed on a backrest 11A of the seat 11 such that upper edge 5B andlower edge 5C of the frame 5 serve as supporting points. Namely, thebody support assembly 1 serves as a cushioning which supports a user'sbody from back to waist thereof. By putting a cover sheet (not shown),such as a stretchable fabric or the like which is proper for theautomotive seat, over a back cover 12 A, the body support assembly 1 iscompletely hidden, and thus the favorable appearance of the seat 11equipping the body support assembly 1 can be obtained. Meanwhile,reference number 13 in FIG. 13 denotes a headrest, while referencenumber 14 denotes a bottom of the seat 11. The body support assembly 1supports the user's body from shoulder to waist, and employs a structuresuch that thickness thereof gradually decreases from the portion forsupporting the waist of the user to the portion for supporting theshoulder of the user. Accordingly, the user's shoulder is supportedwithout an inter-space between the user's back and the backrest 11A.This makes it possible to stably support the user's head by the headrest13.

Next, operations of the body support assembly 1 employing theabove-explained structure will now be explained. First of all, the bodysupport assembly 1 is taken out from the moisture-proof bag (not shown).The moisture-curable resin starts curing when water is forced into thecloth 3 (the moisture permeability member of the body support assembly1) by pressingly putting an atomist spray or the like to the cloth 3.Then, the frame 5 is placed on the backrest 11A of the seat 11, whilethe cover sheet is put over there if necessary.

Next, when the user (not shown) sits down while pressing his/her body tothe body support assembly 1, the stretchable cloth 3 stretches, whilethe granulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 move relative toone another and rapidly deform the whole shape thereof to the specificshape fitting to the user's body. When the moisture-curable resincoating the surfaces of the granulated materials 2 cures in a short time(3-5 minutes), the granulated materials 2 are immobilized and thus thespecific shape thereof can be held. At the central portion of thesupporting member 4, the granulated materials 2 become thinnercorresponding to the amount of the pressure from the user and thus theplaner shape of the supporting member 4 is urged to be changed by thegranulated materials 2, but the supporting member 4 does not protrudeoutside the frame 5 since the supporting member 4 is embraced by theframe 5. As a result, both right and left edges of the supporting member4 inflate and hold the user's body in a manner like wrapping the user'sbody from right and left sides.

Since the body support assembly 1 can instantly and easily deform itsshape matching the individual user's body shape while the portion of thebody support assembly 1 facing the seat 11 can deform its shape smoothlyin accordance with the seat 11 and then harden, the body supportassembly 1 can be placed without a displacement relative to the seat 11.Moreover, whilst the body support assembly 1 holds its shape by allowingthe moisture-curable resin coating the granulated materials 2 to cure,yet it can have an appropriate softness as well as hardness since eachgranulated material 2 has elasticity. Further, it can also have an airpermeability so as to essentially prevent the user from getting sweatywhen used for a long time since there is a space between each of thegranulated materials 2. Therefore, it can provide a comfortable holdingand cushioning performance to the user.

Moreover, since the body support assembly 1 employs a simple structuresuch that the granulated materials 2 coated with the moisture-curableresin are covered by the cloth 3 while the frame 5 is used as aframework, it can be simply designed, and is excellent inmass-productivity. Therefore, the body support assembly 1 can bemanufactured at a low-cost. Further, since the body support assembly 1is preserved in the moisture-proof bag and sealed therein, thegranulated materials 2 can be prevented from getting immobilized due tothe granulated materials 2 sticking to one another. Accordingly, thesupporting member 4 can be prevented from becoming solid unless the bodysupport assembly 1 is taken out of the moisture-proof bag, and thus thebody support assembly 1 has excellent transporting, distributing andstoring abilities, and is extremely easy to handle.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, the body supportassembly 1 comprising: a supporting member 4 including the plurality ofgranulated materials 2 coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a cloth3 as a moisture permeable member being deformable by press, the cloth 3covering the supporting member 4, the body support assembly 1 being usedby allowing: the moisture permeable member to contact a portion of auser's body so as to move the granulated materials 2 relative to oneanother; the supporting member 4 to deform in a shape according to theportion of the user's body; and the moisture-curable resin to cure,wherein the body support assembly 1 further comprises a frame 5 as acontrol means for controlling relative movements of the granulatedmaterials 2, the frame 5 defining a contour of the supporting member 4.Thus, the relative movements of the granulated materials 2 in thesupporting member 4 are controlled by allowing the frame 5 to surroundthe outer peripheral edge of the supporting member 4. The body supportassembly 1 is moisturized, and set between the seat 11 and the user'sbody. When the user sits down while pressing the body support assembly1, the granulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 move relativeto one another and deform the whole shape thereof to the specific shapefitting to the portion of the user's body such as hip, waist or thelike. When the moisture-curable resin cures, the granulated materials 2with the specific shape are immobilized, and thus the shape matching theindividual user's body is held. Since the relative movements of thegranulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 are controlled, thesupporting member 4 does not get out of shape when deformed.Accordingly, the body support assembly 1 is suitable for a seat, a chairor the like whose width is subjected to restrictions. Specifically,since each of the granulated materials 2 has elasticity, the position ofthe user's body can be reliably supported and the pressure from theuser's body can be dispersed, and the body support assembly 1 can havesuperior air permeability.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will now be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The body support assembly according tothis embodiment essentially employs the same structure as that of thefirst embodiment, and thus the same reference numbers will denote thesame structure portions, while detailed explanations thereof will beomitted. In the body support assembly 1 of this embodiment, thesupporting member 4 employs a structure such that the plurality ofgranulated materials 2 coated with the moisture-curable resin arecontained in a molded container 21 having deformability, while an opensurface side of the molded container 21 is covered with a film 23 or thelike. In this embodiment, the control means for controlling relativemovements of the granulated materials 2 within the supporting member 4comprises: the molded container 21 covering one surface of thesupporting member 4; and the film 23 or the like covering the opensurface of the molded container 21. The molded container 21 is made upof a plastic mesh material having elasticity and moisture-permeability.As shown in FIG. 8, the molded container 21 is a box whose planer shapeis octagonal, like a rectangular whose edges are cut in crosswise.Meanwhile, the deformable molded container 21 mentioned in thisspecification is one made from a material having flexibility orfragility. As the material having flexibility may preferably be used onehaving air permeability and moisture permeability, such as a cardboard,a denim fabric or a plastic mesh made of polypropylene, nylon or thelike. Alternatively, various kinds of a plastic sheet or film having noair permeability and moisture permeability but having flexibility can beused in the same way by being formed with a plurality of pores. On theother hand, the material having fragility is one which is not collapsedwhen a stress is applied but cracked and deformed, so that it canacquire air permeability and moisture permeability. To be more precise,a shell of a thin glass, acrylic resin or calcium carbonate can be usedas the material having fragility.

In the above-explained body support assembly 1, the granulated materials2 and the moisture-curable resin are the same as ones in the firstembodiment. Further, the body support assembly 1 of this embodiment isalso put into a non-illustrated moisture-proof bag and sealed therein.

Next, operations of the body support assembly 1 employing theabove-explained structure will now be explained. First of all, the bodysupport assembly 1 is taken out from the moisture-proof bag (not shown).The moisture-curable resin coating the granulated materials 2 startscuring when water is applied to the molded container 21 by spraying orthe like. Then, a cover sheet is put over the molded container 21 ifnecessary, while the body support assembly 1 is set at the automotiveseat 11 in the similar way explained in the first embodiment so that themolded container 21 of the body support assembly 1 faces up. Next, whenthe user sits down while pressing the user's body portion(s) such aswaist, back, legs, etc. to the body support assembly 1, the moldedcontainer 21 deforms, while the granulated materials 2 in the supportingmember 4 move relative to one another, and rapidly deform the wholeshape to the specific shape fitting to the user's body and hold thisspecific shape by being immobilized when the moisture-curable resincoating the surfaces of granulated materials 2 cures in a short time(3-5 minutes). The shape of the supporting member 4 is urged to bechanged in accordance with the amount of press the granulated materials2 are subjected to, but the supporting member 4 does not protrude out ofthe molded container 21 since one side of the supporting member 4 iscovered by the molded container 21 so that relative movements of thegranulated materials 2, which occurs in a direction toward the one sideand in a lateral direction relative to a bottom surface 21B embraced bya peripheral wall 21 A of the molded container 21, is controlled.Accordingly, the body support assembly 1 can be deformed in a shapecontrolled by the molded container 21. Moreover, whilst the body supportassembly 1 is one which holds its shape by allowing the moisture-curableresin coating the granulated materials 2 to cure, it can have anappropriate softness as well as hardness since each granulated material2 has elasticity, while it can have an air permeability so as toessentially prevent the user from getting sweaty when used for a longtime since there is a pore space among the granulated materials 2.Therefore, it can provide a comfortable holding and cushioningperformance to the user.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will now be explainedwith reference to FIG. 10. The body support assembly according to thethird embodiment essentially employs the same structure as that of thesecond embodiment, and thus the same reference numbers will denote thesame structure portions, while detailed explanations thereof will beomitted. In the body support assembly 1 of this embodiment, thesupporting member 4 employs a structure such that the plurality ofgranulated materials 2 coated with the moisture-curable resin arecontained in a pair of the molded containers 21 each havingdeformability. In this embodiment, the control means for controlling therelative movements of the granulated materials 2 within the supportingmember 4 comprises the pair of molded containers 21 covering allperiphery of the supporting member 4. Each of the molded containers 21comprises a plastic flexible mesh material having moisture-permeability.In the above-explained body support assembly 1, the granulated materials2 and the moisture-curable resin are the same as ones in the firstembodiment. Further, the body support assembly 1 according to thisembodiment is also put into a non-illustrated moisture-proof bag andsealed therein. The body support assembly 1 according to the thirdembodiment can be used in the same way as explained in the secondembodiment. Specifically, since both sides of the supporting member 4are molded containers 21, the body support assembly 1 can be usedirrespective of which side of the body support assembly 1 faces up andwhich side thereof faces down.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The body support assembly 1 accordingto the fourth embodiment essentially employs the same structure as thatof the second embodiment, and thus the same reference numbers willdenote the same structure portions, while detailed explanations thereofwill be omitted. In the body support assembly 1 of this embodiment, thesupporting member 4 employs a structure such that the plurality ofgranulated materials 2 coated with the moisture-curable resin arecontained in a molded container 24 having deformability, while open sideof the molded container 24 is covered by a film 23 or the like. In thisembodiment, the control means for controlling the relative movements ofthe granulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 comprises: themolded container 24 covering the supporting member 4 from one sidethereof; and the film 23 or the like covering the open side of themolded container 21. The molded container 24 comprises a plasticflexible mesh material having moisture-permeability and, as shown inFIG. 11, it is formed in a box shape such that it is rectangular in aplane but having tapered portions 25 on the upper and lower endsthereof, the tapered portions 25 having smooth slopes. In theabove-explained body support assembly 1, the granulated materials 2 andthe moisture-curable resin are the same as ones in the first embodiment.Further, the body support assembly 1 of this embodiment is also put intoa non-illustrated moisture-proof bag and sealed therein.

The body support assembly 1 of the fourth embodiment can be used in thesame way as explained in the second embodiment. Specifically, since thetapered portions 25 having smooth slopes are formed on the upper andlower ends of the molding portion 24, a bump between the body supportassembly 1 and the automotive seat 11 is not essentially created whenthe body support assembly 1 is placed on the automotive seat 11.Therefore, the user essentially does not feel uncomfortable.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will now be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 13 to 17. The body support assembly according tothe fifth embodiment essentially employs the same structure as that ofthe second embodiment, and thus the same reference numbers will denotethe same structure portions, while detailed explanations thereof will beomitted. In the body support assembly 1 of this embodiment, thesupporting member 4 employs a structure such that the plurality ofgranulated materials 2 coated with the moisture-curable resin arecontained in a molded container 26 having flexibility, while open sideof the molded container 26 is covered by a film 23 or the like. In thisembodiment, the control means for controlling the relative movements ofthe granulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 comprises: themolded container 26 covering one side of the supporting member 4; andthe film 23 or the like covering the open side thereof. The moldedcontainer 26 comprises a plastic mesh material having flexibility andmoisture-permeability. As shown in FIG. 13, it is formed in a box shapesuch that it is rectangular in a plane but having thicker hold portions27 on the right and left ends thereof. In the above-explained bodysupport assembly 1, the granulated materials 2 and the moisture-curableresin are the same as ones in the first embodiment. Further, the bodysupport assembly 1 of this embodiment is also put into a non-illustratedmoisture-proof bag and sealed therein. The body support assembly 1according to the fifth embodiment can be used in the same way asexplained in the second embodiment. The body support assembly 1 of thisembodiment is bucket seat type having thicker hold portions 27 on theright and left sides of the molded container 26. In general,manufacturing one having such a complicated contour needs a lot of work.The body support assembly 1 according to this embodiment, however, canbe shaped in such complicated contour by shaping the molded container 26correspondingly, and thus the body support assembly 1 is suitable forbeing formed in various kinds of shape.

Moreover, in the body support assembly 1 according to this embodiment,since the supporting member 4 is placed on the backrest 11A of the seat11 while the hold portions 27 are formed on the right and left sides ofthe molded container 26, the body support assembly 1 can hold the backof the user from both right and left sides. Accordingly, the user cansit down in a condition without a stress applied to the muscles from thewaist to the back, and thus a stress to the waist of the user can bereduced.

Meanwhile, since the body support assembly 1 according to thisembodiment employs a complicated form such that it has the moldedcontainer 26 having flexibility or fragility, the hold portions 27 mightbe deformed during the preservation and transportation thereof. In thisconnection, the body support assembly 1 may be covered by a containerwhich is made from, for example, expanded polystyrene so that thedeformation of the molded container 26 can be prevented. As shown inFIG. 17, this container comprises: an upper part covering member 28having a concaved portion corresponding to the upper-half shape of thebody support assembly 1; and a lower part covering member 29 having aconcaved portion corresponding to the lower-half shape of the bodysupport assembly 1. The molded container 26 is kept in its initial shapeby covering the same with the upper part covering member 28 and thelower part covering member 29, and then the body support assembly 1 withthe molded container 26 is put into the moisture proof bag 30 and sealedtherein so as to prevent external force from being applied thereto.Accordingly, the deformation of the molded container 26 can beprevented. Needless to say, such external force blockage containercomprising the upper part coveting member 28 and the lower part coveringmember 29 can be used in the other embodiments.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will now be explained.As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, in the body support assembly 1 according tothis embodiment, the supporting member 4 employs a structure such thatthe plurality of granulated materials 2 coated with the moisture-curableresin are covered by two sheets of stretchable cloths 3 made fromknitted fabrics, textile fabrics, non-woven cloths or monofilamentsformed by strings of a fiber assembly as a moisture permeable memberdeformable by press. Two sheets of the cloths 3 are sewed in grids so asto form a plurality of sections 4A. In order to hold and wrap theportion of the user's body from right and left sides for achieving awell supporting effect, the cloth 3 employs a structure such that thesize thereof is set to be slightly larger than that of a portion of theuser's body to be supported by the body support assembly 1. In the bodysupport assembly 1, the granulated materials 2 and the moisture-curableresin are the same as ones explained in the first embodiment. Further,the body support assembly 1 of this embodiment is also put into anon-illustrated moisture-proof bag and sealed therein.

Operations of the body support assembly 1 employing the above-explainedstructure will now be explained. First of all, the body support assembly1 is taken out from the moisture-proof bag (not shown). Themoisture-curable resin starts curing when water is applied into thecloths 3 (the moisture permeability member of the body support assembly1) by, for example, spraying the water to the cloth 3. The frame 5 isplaced on the backrest 11A, and a cover sheet is put over there.

Next, when the user sits down while pressing the user's body to the bodysupport assembly 1, the stretchable cloths 3 elongates, while thegranulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 move relative to oneanother, and rapidly deform the whole shape to the specific shapefitting to the user's body and hold this specific shape by beingimmobilized when the moisture-curable resin coating the surfaces ofgranulated materials 2 cures in a short time (3-5 minutes). At thecentral portion of the supporting member 4, the granulated materials 2become thinner in accordance with the amount of press they are subjectedto, and thus the planer shape of the supporting member 4 is urged to bechanged by the granulated materials 2. The granulated materials 2,however, do not protrude out of the sections 4A since they are dividedby the sections 4A. As a result, both right and left edges of thesupporting member 4 only inflate and hold the user's body so as to wrapthe user's body.

Since the body support assembly 1 can instantly and easily deform itsshape to the specific shape matching the individual user's body whilethe portion of the body support assembly 1 facing the seat 11 can deformits shape and hardens corresponding to the shape of the seat 11smoothly, the body support assembly 1 can be essentially placed withouta displacement. Moreover, the body support assembly 1 holds its shape byallowing the moisture-curable resin coating the granulated materials 2to cure, but it can have an appropriate softness as well as hardnesssince each granulated material 2 has elasticity, while it can have anair permeability so as to essentially prevent the user from gettingsweaty when used for a long time. Therefore, it can provide acomfortable holding and cushioning.

Further, the body support assembly 1 can be simply designed and havegood mass-productivity since the body support assembly 1 employs asimple structure such that the granulated materials 2 coated with themoisture-curable resin are covered by the stretchable cloths 3.Therefore, the body support assembly 1 can be simply manufactured at alow-cost. Still further, since the body support assembly 1 is preservedwhile being put into the moisture-proof bag and sealed therein, thegranulated materials 2 can be prevented from sticking one another andbeing immobilized. Accordingly, the supporting member 4 can be preventedfrom becoming solidified as long as putting the body support assembly 1in the moisture-proof bag, and thus the body support assembly 1 hasexcellent transporting capability, distributing ability and storingability.

As explained above, the control means of this embodiment, the controlmeans is arranged so as to cover both sides of the supporting member 4with cloths 3 as the sheet members, the cloths 3 being seamed so as todivided the supporting member 4 into a plurality of sections 4A forcontrolling the relative movements of the granulated materials 2, thesupporting member 4 containing a plurality of the granulated materials2. The granulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 can only moveinside the respective sections 4A, and thus the body support assembly 1can have a shape matching the flexible cloths 3. Specifically, sinceeach of the granulated materials 2 has elasticity, the position of theuser's body can be reliably supported, while the pressure from theuser's body can be dispersed and thus the body support assembly 1 canhave superior air permeability.

A seventh embodiment of the present invention will now be explained indetail. As shown in FIG. 20, in the body support assembly 1 according tothis embodiment, the supporting member 4 employs a structure such that amass of the plurality of granulated materials 2 coated with themoisture-curable resin is cured on its outside surface only so as toform a hardening layer 2A as the moisture permeable member, in a desiredshape. In this embodiment, the control means for controlling therelative movements of the granulated materials 2 within the supportingmember 4 comprises the hardening layer 2A. Since the granulatedmaterials 2 are embraced by the hardening layer 2A and the granulatedmaterials 2 move inside the hardening layer 2A and deforms insidethereof, the deformation of the granulated materials 2 is controlled bythe hardening layer 2A. Accordingly, the granulated materials 2 do notdeform significantly. The body support assembly 1 according to thisembodiment can be used in the same way as explained in the firstembodiment. Specifically, the productivity and economical efficiency ofthe body support assembly 1 can be improved since the supporting member4 and the moisture-permeable material can be made from the same materialat once.

The body support assembly 1 according to this embodiment can bemanufactured as follows: as shown in FIG. 21, a mold 31 having a cavity32 formed in the same shape as one surface of the body support assembly1 is manufactured in advance, and the granulated materials 2 are thinlyspread in the cavity 32, then water is applied by spraying or the likefor allowing the moisture-curable resin to cure so as to form one sidesurface 33 of the hardening layer. The other side surface 34 of thehardening layer is formed in the same way, while both one side surface33 and the other side surface 34 of the hardening layer are bonded so asto enclose the non-hardened granulated materials 2. Meanwhile, the aboveexplanation is a conceptual one, and various modifications can be made.For example, as shown in FIG. 22, by placing a surface skin material 35on the mold 31, spreading the granulated materials 2 thereon, and thenforming the hardening layers 33, 34 integrally with the skin material35, the breakup of the hardening layers 33, 34 can be prevented and thusthe appearance of the body support assembly 1 can be improved.

Like the second to seventh embodiments, the control means can be invarious modes as long as it can control the relative movements of thegranulated materials 2 within the supporting member 4.

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will now beexplained in detail with reference to FIG. 23. The body support assembly1 according to the eighth embodiment essentially employs the samestructure as that of the third embodiment, and thus the same referencenumbers will denote the same structure portions, while detailedexplanations thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the bodysupport assembly 1 of the third embodiment has a foamed member 41 suchas foamed polyurethane or the like in the center portion of thesupporting member 4, the foamed member 41 having elasticity. In thisembodiment, the foamed member 41 serves as a volume variable means,while the volume variable means forms the contour of the body supportassembly 1. Moreover, the foamed member 41 is provided inside thesupporting member 4 so as to absorb the change of volume of thesupporting member 4 as a buffering member.

With the structure such that the supporting member 4 includes the foamedmember 41 inside thereof, when the user sits down while pressing theuser's body to the body support assembly 1, the molded container 21deforms, and the granulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 moverelative to one another, while the foamed member 41 contracts andrapidly deforms in the specific shape fitting to the user's body. Themoisture-curable resin coating the surfaces of the granulated materials2 cures in a short time (3-5 minutes), and thus the granulated materials2 are immobilized. Accordingly, the foamed member 41 is allowed to holdthe deformed shape, and thus the body support assembly 1 can hold thedeformed shape. Specifically, the body support assembly 1 of thisembodiment has excellent flexibility since it includes the foamed member41 as well as the granulated materials 2 each having elasticity.Further, the amount of the granulated materials 2 coated with therelatively expensive and delicate moisture-curable resin can be reduced.

Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will now be explainedin detail with reference to FIGS. 24 to 27. In the body support assembly51 according to this embodiment, the supporting member 4 employs astructure such that the plurality of granulated materials 2 coated withthe moisture-curable resin are contained between molded containers 52,53 each having deformability. The molded container 52 forming one side(rear side) of the supporting member 4, while the molded container 53forming the other side (front side) of the supporting member 4. Themolded containers 52, 53 have moisture permeability and comprise meshmaterials made from flexible synthetic resins. As shown in FIG. 24, thebody support assembly 51 is a bucket type support assembly such that ithas a rectangular shape in a plane, with thick hold portions 54 on theright and left sides thereof three-dimensionally. Moreover, a pluralityof openings 55 each having a larger diameter than that of the granulatedmaterial 2 are formed on the sidewalls of the molded container 52, whilethe sidewalls form the right and left hold portions 54. The openings 55are each formed on the respective sidewalls of the molded container 52by forming intermittent lines in a circle to have perforated tearportions. The openings 55 are arranged such that the perforated tearportions would be cleaved so as to open circular pores when the pressureinside the supporting member 4 increases as explained later.

In the body support assembly 51, the granulated materials 2 and themoisture-curable resin are the same as ones in the first embodiment.Further, the body support assembly 51 according to this embodiment isalso put into a non-illustrated moisture-proof bag and sealed thereinwhen preserved. Accordingly, the granulated materials 2 are notmoisturized in this put-in condition, and thus hardening thereof iscertainly prevented, while the moisture-curable resin coating thegranulated materials 2 can cure in a short time by applying water,spraying a catalyst solution so as to be moisturized when themoisture-proof bag is opened. By putting over a cover sheet (not shown)which is proper for an automotive seat, for example, a stretchablefabric, the body support assembly 51 is completely hidden, and thus thesignificantly favorable appearance in this equipping condition can beobtained. The body support assembly 51 according to this embodiment isplaced on the seat cover 62 covering the automotive seat 61. Meanwhile,reference number 63 denotes a headrest.

Next, operations of the body support assembly 51 employing theabove-explained structure will now be explained. First of all, the bodysupport assembly 51 is taken out from the moisture-proof bag (notshown). The moisture-curable resin starts curing (FIG. 27(a)) when wateris applied through the moisture permeating pores by spraying the wateror the like to the molded containers 52, 53 (the moisture permeabilitymember of the body support assembly 51). Then, the body support assembly51 is put on the backrest 61A of the seat 61. Next, when the userpresses the body support assembly 1 with the predetermined portion(s) ofthe user's body such as waist, back, legs and so on, the moldedcontainers 52, 53 having flexibility, specifically, the molded container53 forming the front side of the supporting member 4 deforms, and thegranulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 move relative to oneanother, the pressure from the granulated materials 2 in the supportingmember 4 increases, and thus the perforated tear portions of theopenings 55 are cleaved so as to open circular pores. The pressureinside the supporting member 4 increases in accordance with the amountof press the granulated materials 2 are given by the user, while theshape of the supporting member 4 is urged to be changed due to thepressure. In this embodiment, since the openings 55 are formed on themolded container 52, the openings 55 are opened (cleaved) when thepressure from the granulated materials 2 becomes greater than thepredetermined amount of the pressure. A certain amount of the granulatedmaterials 2 in accordance with the pressure, that is, the user's bodyshape are discharged from the openings 55 slowly due to thegelatinization thereof that accompanies the curing of themoisture-curable resin (FIG. 27(b)). Accordingly, the supporting member4 rapidly deforms its whole shape to the specific shape fitting to theuser's body shape, the moisture-curable resin coating the surfaces ofthe granulated materials 2 starts curing in a short time (3-5 minutes),while the molded containers 52, 53 become solidified with the specificshape associated with the immobilization of the granulated materials 2.Then, the granulated materials 2 discharged from the openings 55 are cut(FIG. 27(c)). As explained above, since the supporting member 4 iscovered by the molded container 52 from one side thereof and theopenings 55 are formed on the hold members 54, the granulated materials2 are discharged from the openings 55 in accordance with the user's bodyshape so that the supporting member 4 is not deformed in any irregularshape. Moreover, the body support assembly 1 holds its shape by allowingthe moisture-curable resin coating the granulated materials 2 to cure,but it can have appropriate softness as well as hardness since eachgranulated materials 2 has elasticity, while it can have airpermeability so as to essentially prevent the user from getting sweatywhen used for a long time since there is a pore space among thegranulated materials 2. Therefore, it can provide a comfortable holdingand cushioning performance to the user.

As explained above, the body support assembly 51 of this embodimentcomprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulatedmaterials 2 coated with a moisture-curable resin; and molded containers52, 53 as moisture permeable members being deformable by press andcovering the supporting member 4, the body support assembly 51 beingused by allowing: the molded members 52, 53 to contact a portion of auser's body so as to move the granulated materials 2 relative to oneanother; the supporting member 4 to deform in a shape according to theportion of the user's body; and the moisture-curable resin to cure,wherein the body support assembly 51 further comprises a volume variablemeans in the supporting member 4, the volume variable means defining acontour of the body support assembly 51. The volume variable meanschanges a volume of the supporting member 4 by allowing: at least oneside of the supporting member 4 to be covered with a molded container 52having a predetermined shape; the molded container 52 to be formed witha plurality of open-able sections; open side of the molded container 52to be covered with the molded container 53 as a moisture permeablemember that is deformable by press; the molded container 53 to come incontact with a portion of a user's body in order to deform thesupporting member 4 and increase a pressure from the granulatedmaterials 2 inside the supporting member 4 so that the plurality ofopen-able sections 55 are opened, while the granulated materials 2 aredischarged from the opened open-able sections 55. The outer form of thebody support assembly 1 can be defined by employing the above-explainedstructure. When the granulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4are depressed and the pressure from the granulated materials 2increases, the open-able sections 55 of the molded container 52 areopened and thus the granulated materials 2 are discharged from theopened open-able sections 55 and thus the volume of the supportingmember 4 is changed in order to keep the outer form of the body supportassembly 1. Accordingly, the supporting member 4 does not get out ofshape. Therefore, the body support assembly 51 is suitable for a seat, achair or the like. Specifically, since each of the granulated materials2 has elasticity, the position of the user's body can be reliablysupported, while the pressure from the user's body can be dispersed andthus the body support assembly 51 can have superior air permeability.Moreover, the user can get a comfortable sitting feeling by the holdingmember 54.

Further, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will now beexplained in detail with reference to FIGS. 28 to 31. In the bodysupport assembly 71 according to this embodiment, the supporting member4 employs a structure such that the granulated materials 2 coated withthe moisture-curable resin are contained between molded containers 72,73. The molded container 72 forms one side (lower side) of thesupporting member 4, while the molded container 73 forms the other side(upper side) of the supporting member 4. The molded containers 72, 73are deformable or fragile, each having moisture permeability andcomprising a mesh material made from flexible synthetic resins. As shownin FIG. 28, the planer shape of the body support assembly 71 is arectangular with waney edges, while as shown in FIG. 29, the shapethereof at a cross section is one such that it has a hemispheric dormportion 74 at the center thereof. In the body support assembly 74, themolded containers 72, 73 are made from synthetic resins, while on thedorm portion 72A of the molded container 72 forming the lower side,open-able sections 75 are each formed by forming intermittent lines in acircle. The open-able sections 75 are arranged such that the perforatedtear portions would be cleaved so as to open circular pores when thepressure inside the supporting member 4 increases as explained later.

The volume variable means according to this embodiment comprises: themolded container 72 with a predetermined shape which covers at least oneside of the supporting member 4; the open-able sections 75 formed on themolded container 72; and the molded container 73 which covers the openside of the molded container 72 as a flexible and deformablemoisture-permeable member. The volume variable means changes the volumeof the supporting member 4 by: increasing the pressure from thegranulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 by allowing the moldedcontainer 73 to be put the portion of the user's body in order to bepressed and deformed; opening the open-able sections 75 by the increasedpressure; and discharging the granulated materials 2 from the open-ablesections 75.

In the body support assembly 71, the granulated materials 2 and themoisture-curable resin are the same in the first embodiment. Further,the body support assembly 71 according to this embodiment is also putinto a non-illustrated moisture-proof bag and sealed therein whenstored. Accordingly, the granulated materials 2 are not moisturized inthis put-in condition, and thus immobilization thereof is certainlyprevented, while the moisture-curable resin coating the granulatedmaterials 2 can cure in a short time by adding water, spraying acatalyst solution so as to allow the moisture-curable resin to bemoisturized when the moisture-proof bag is opened. By putting over astretchable cloth (not shown), the appearance of the body supportassembly 71 can be improved. The above-explained body support assembly71 according to this embodiment is placed in, for example, a shoe so asto align to a planer arch of the user's foot.

Next, operations of the body support assembly 71 employing theabove-explained structure will now be explained. First of all, the bodysupport assembly 71 is taken out from the moisture-proof bag (notshown). The moisture-curable resin starts curing (FIG. 29) when water isapplied from the pores by spraying the water or the like to the moldedcontainers 72, 73 (the moisture permeability member of the body supportassembly 71). Then, the body support assembly 71 is put in the shoe soas to align to the planer arch of the user's foot. Next, when the userputs his/her leg into the shoe, the molded containers 72, 73 withflexibility or fragility, specifically, the molded container 73 on theupper side is deformed, and thus the granulated materials 2 in thesupporting member 4 move relative to one another. The pressure from thegranulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4 increases, and thusthe perforated tear portions of the open-able sections 75 are cleaved soas to open circular pores. The pressure inside the supporting member 4increases in accordance with how much the granulated materials 2 arepressed by the user, while the shape of the supporting member 4 is urgedto be changed due to the pressure. In this embodiment, since theopen-able sections 75 are formed on the molded container 72, theopen-able sections 75 are opened when the pressure from the granulatedmaterials 2 becomes greater than the predetermined pressure. A certainamount of the granulated materials 2 in accordance with the pressure,that is, the user's body shape are discharged from the open-ablesections 75 slowly due to the gelatinization thereof that accompaniesthe curing of the moisture-curable resin (FIG. 30). Accordingly, thesupporting member 4 rapidly deforms its initial shape to the specificshape fitting to the user's leg, the moisture-curable resin coating thesurfaces of the granulated materials 2 cures in a short time (3-5minutes), while the molded containers 72, 73 become solidified with thespecific shape associated with the immobilization of the granulatedmaterials 2. As explained above, the body support assembly 71 accordingto this embodiment can be used as a small type supporting member such asan inner sole. Meanwhile, a foamed member 76 made from foamedpolyurethane and have elasticity may be provided on the center portionof the supporting member 4 as shown in FIG. 31. By allowing thesupporting member 4 to include the foamed member 76 as the volumevariable means, the granulated materials 2 in the supporting member 4move, while the foamed member 76 contracts and rapidly deforms in theshape fitting to the user's foot. Then, the moisture-curable resincoating the surfaces of the granulated materials 2 cures in a short time(3-5 minutes), the granulated materials 2 are immobilized, while thefoamed member 76 can keep its contracted shape and hold its contractedshape.

Next, an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will now beexplained in detail with reference to FIG. 32. The body support assembly1 of this embodiment supports the body of the user U from the shoulderU1 to the waist U2, and arranged such that the thickness thereofdecreases toward a shoulder supporting member 101 from a waistsupporting member 102. Accordingly, an inter space between the back ofthe user U and the backrest 11A is not essentially created, and thus thehead of the user can be stably supported by the headrest 12 since theuser's shoulder can be supported by the body support assembly 1.Meanwhile, the body support assembly 1 according to this embodiment canemploy the same structures explained in each of the above embodiments.Moreover, the shoulder supporting member 101 and the waist supportingmember 102 constitute a backrest obverse portion which is placed on thebackrest 11S.

As explained in this embodiment, the supporting member 4 is placed onthe backrest 11A of the seat 11, it has the waist supporting member 102and the shoulder supporting member 101 while it becomes thinner to theshoulder supporting member 101, and thus an inter space between theshoulder U1 of the user U and the backrest portion 11A is notessentially created. Therefore, the head of the user U can be stablysupported by the headrest.

Next, a twelfth embodiment of the present invention will now beexplained in detail with reference to FIG. 33. The body support assembly1 of this embodiment has a backrest obverse portion 81 contacting thebackrest 11 and a bottom obverse portion 82 contacting the bottom 14 ofthe seat 11. The backrest obverse portion 81 extends beyond the waistU2, while the body support assembly 1 is formed in a shape such that itoccupies a corner space K between the front lower portion of thebackrest 11 and the rear upper portion of the bottom 14. In a case wherethe seat 11 is reclining type as illustrated, a stress is applied to thewaist U2 due to the generation of the corner space K. However, the bodysupport assembly 1 according to this embodiment can improve the seatingfeeling of the user U by occupying the corner space K. Meanwhile, thebody support assembly 1 of this embodiment can employ the structuresexplained in each of the above explained embodiments.

As explained, since the supporting member 4 has the backrest obverseportion 81 placed on the backrest 11A of the seat 11 and the bottomobverse portion 82 provided on the bottom 14 of the seat 11, the bodyportion of the user U from the waist U2 to the shoulder U3 can be held,while an area to be supported by the body support assembly 1 isenlarged, and thus a stress partially applied to the waist U2 can bereduced. Therefore, a generation of a backache due to driving a car in adriving position can be prevented.

Next, a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention will now beexplained in detail with reference to FIGS. 34 and 35. The body supportassembly 1 according to the twelfth embodiment has a frame 5. Asillustrated, the body support assembly 1 is formed in a triangular prismshape in profile, while it has: a backrest contacting plane 1A coming incontact with the backrest 11A; a bottom contacting plane 1B coming incontact with the bottom 14; and an inclined plane 1C in its triangularcross section. The length LA of the backrest contacting plane 1A islonger than the length LB of the bottom contacting plane 1B, while thelength LC of the inclined plane 1C is longer than the length LA. Thebody of the user U comes in contact with the inclined plane 1C.Moreover, the frame 5 serves as the controlling means, and hastriangular portions 91 corresponding to the side ends of the bodysupport assembly 1. The triangular portions 91 are coupled with eachother by a coupling frame member 92 placed in the width direction of thebody support assembly 1, while the edges of the triangular portions 91are formed by bending. Since the frame 5 does not occupy the spacesabove and below of the inclined surface 1C, the user U does not feel theframe 5 when sitting.

In this embodiment, the control means comprises the frame 5 embracingthe outer peripheral edge of the supporting member 4, and thus the bodysupport assembly 1 can hold its contour along the frame 5.

Next, a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention will now beexplained in detail with reference to FIG. 36. The body support assembly1 according to this embodiment has the frame 5 as the control means. Thebody support assembly 1 is bucket seat type such that hold portions 111are formed on the right and left ends of the backrest obverse portion 81placed on the backrest 11A. Meanwhile, the upper portion of the backrestobverse portion 81 extends to the shoulder U1 of the user U. Each of thehold portions 111 has: a concave portion 112 concaving toward thebackward and provided on the center in the direction of its height;convex portions 113, 114 protruding toward the frontward and provided onthe upper and lower portions of the concave portion 112, respectively.The upper convex portion 113 holds the shoulder U1 of the user U, whilethe lower convex portion 114 holds the portion of the user's body aroundthe waist U2. FIG. 38 shows a cross sectional view of the body supportassembly 1 before used. The hold portion 111 is formed such that theedges of the backrest obverse portion 81 are preliminary bent toward thefrontward with slopes. Moreover, the frame 5 is formed in a shape suchthat it follows the upper and lower portions of the backrest obverseportion 81 and the front ends of the hold portions 111 provided on theright and left of the backrest obverse portion 81. The hold portions 111are placed so as to wrap the body of the user U from the right and leftthereof.

As explained above, since the supporting member 4 is placed on thebackrest 11A of the seat 11, while the hold portions 111 are provided onthe right and left ends of the supporting member 4 in this embodiment,the back of the user U can be held from both sides thereof and thus theuser U can sit down without a stress to his/her muscle from the waist tothe shoulder thereof. Therefore, the stress to the waist can be reduced.

Next, a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention will now beexplained in detail with reference to FIGS. 39 to 41. The body supportassembly 1 according to this embodiment has a frame 5 as the controlmeans, and placed on the bottom 14 by laying or the like. Thicker holdportions 121 are provided on the right and left ends of the supportingmember 4. The hold portions 121 are formed such that the right and leftends of the supporting member 4 are bent upward with angles respectivelyand aligned so as to hold the body of the user U from the right and leftthereof. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 41, the frame 5 has side portions131 on right and left sides thereof relative to the hold members 121,while the right and left side portions 131 are coupled with each otherby a coupling frame member 132.

As explained above, the supporting member 4 is placed on the bottom 14of the seat 11 while the hold portions 121 are provided on the right andleft ends of the supporting member 4 in this embodiment, the hip U3 ofthe user U can be held from the right and left thereof, and thus theuser U can correctly hold a seating position.

The above-explained embodiments are intended to illustrate the presentinvention, not to limit the scope of the present invention, and variousembodiments and changes may be made thereonto without departing from thebroad spirit and scope of the invention. For example, in order to changethe volume of the supporting member, the granulated materials coatedwith the moisture-curable resin may be covered with a moisture permeablemember deformable by press such as the stretchable cloth 3, while thegathering portion may be provided on the ends of the cloth 3. Further,as the deformable-by-press moisture permeable member, any material canbe used as long as it is deformable by press, having moisturepermeability, and thus it is not limited to a cloth or a container madefrom plastic, but can be paper, natural or artificial leather, etc.Further, the material may be one which essentially does not havemoisture permeability but is given the property by being formed withopenings, by a needle punch or the like. A film or sheet made fromsynthetic resin may be used as the material in that case.

1. A body support assembly comprising: a supporting member including aplurality of granulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin;and a moisture permeable member deformable by press and covering saidsupporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing:said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body soas to move said granulated materials relative to one another; saidsupporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of theuser's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: said bodysupport assembly further comprises a control means for controllingrelative movements of said granulated materials, said control meansdefining a contour of said body support assembly; and said control meanscomprises a frame embracing an outer peripheral edge of said supportingmember.
 2. (Canceled)
 3. A body support assembly comprising: asupporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coatedwith a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable memberdeformable by press and covering said supporting member, said bodysupport assembly being used by allowing: said moisture permeable memberto contact a portion of a user's body so as to move said granulatedmaterials relative to one another; said supporting member to deform in ashape according to the portion of the user's body; and saidmoisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: said body support assemblyfurther comprises a control means for controlling relative movements ofsaid granulated materials, said control means defining a contour of saidbody support assembly; said moisture permeable member comprises a moldedcontainer having flexibility and moisture permeability; and said controlmeans is arranged so as to cover said supporting member from one sidethereof with said molded container and seal off an open side of saidmolded container.
 4. A body support assembly comprising: a supportingmember including a plurality of granulated materials coated with amoisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member deformable bypress and covering said supporting member, said body support assemblybeing used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact aportion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materialsrelative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shapeaccording to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curableresin to cure, wherein: said body support assembly further comprises acontrol means for controlling relative movements of said granulatedmaterials, said control means defining a contour of said body supportassembly; said moisture permeable member comprises molded containerseach having flexibility and moisture permeability; and said controlmeans is arranged so as to cover a whole circumference of saidsupporting member with said molded containers.
 5. A body supportassembly comprising: a supporting member including a plurality ofgranulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and amoisture permeable member deformable by press and covering saidsupporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing:said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body soas to move said granulated materials relative to one another; saidsupporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of theuser's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: said bodysupport assembly further comprises a control means for controllingrelative movements of said granulated materials, said control meansdefining a contour of said body support assembly; said moisturepermeable member comprises a hardening layer of said granulatedmaterials coated with said moisture-curable resin, said granulatedmaterials being hardened in a predetermined shape as a whole; and saidcontrol means has said hardening layer.
 6. A body support assemblycomprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulatedmaterials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeablemember being deformable by press and covering said supporting member,said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisturepermeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to movesaid granulated materials relative to one another; said supportingmember to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body;and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: said body supportassembly further comprises a control means for controlling relativemovements of said granulated materials, said control means defining acontour of said body support assembly; said moisture permeable membercomprises moisture permeable flexible sheet members; and said controlmeans is arranged so as to cover both sides of said supporting memberwith said sheet members, said sheet members being seamed in grids so asto divide said supporting member into a plurality of sections.
 7. Thebody support assembly according to claim 4, wherein said body supportassembly further comprises a volume variable means for said supportingmember, said volume variable means defining a contour of said supportingmember.
 8. A body support assembly comprising: a supporting memberincluding a plurality of granulated materials coated with amoisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member deformable bypress and covering said supporting member, said body support assemblybeing used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact aportion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materialsrelative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shapeaccording to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curableresin to cure, wherein: said body support assembly further comprises avolume variable means in said supporting member, said volume variablemeans defining a contour of said body support assembly; said volumevariable means changes a volume of said supporting member by allowing:at least one side of said supporting member to be covered with a moldedcontainer having a predetermined shape; said molded container to beformed with a plurality of open-able sections; an open side of saidmolded container to be covered with a deformable-by-press moisturepermeable member; said moisture permeable member to come in contact witha portion of a user's body in order to deform the supporting member andincrease a pressure from said granulated materials inside saidsupporting member so that said plurality of open-able sections areopened, while said granulated materials are discharged from said openedopen-able sections.
 9. A body support assembly comprising: a supportingmember including a plurality of granulated materials coated with amoisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member deformable bypress and covering said supporting member, said body support assemblybeing used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact aportion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materialsrelative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shapeaccording to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curableresin to cure, wherein: said body support assembly further comprises avolume variable means in said supporting member, said volume variablemeans defining a contour of said body support assembly; and said volumevariable means is provided inside said supporting member and serves as abuffering member absorbing a change of volume of said supporting member.10. The body support assembly according to claim 9, wherein saidbuffering member comprises a foamed member.
 11. A body support assemblycomprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulatedmaterials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeablemember being deformable by press and covering said supporting member,said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisturepermeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to movesaid granulated materials relative to one another; said supportingmember to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body;and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: said body supportassembly further comprises a control means for controlling relativemovements of said granulated materials, said control means defining acontour of said body support assembly; and said supporting member isarranged to include a foamed member so as to change a volume thereof.12. The body support assembly according to claim 1, wherein: saidsupporting member is provided on a backrest of a seat, said supportingmember comprising a waist supporting member and a shoulder supportingmember; and said supporting member is formed such that thickness thereofdecreases toward said shoulder supporting member.
 13. The body supportassembly according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member comprises:a backrest corresponding member placed on a backrest of a seat; and abottom corresponding member placed on a bottom of said seat. 14.(Canceled)
 15. The body support assembly according to claim 1, wherein:said supporting member is placed on a backrest of a seat; and holdingmembers are formed on right and left ends of said supporting member. 16.The body support assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said supportingmember is placed on a bottom of a seat; and holding members are formedon right and left ends of said supporting member.